Machine for stringing corks.



A. P. WATT. MACHINE FOR STRINGING OOBKS.

APPLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. 24, 1909.

* Patented May 9, 1.911.

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A. P. WATT. MACHINE FoP. STRINGING GORKS.

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A. r. WATT. MACHINE FOR STRINGING'GORKS.

APPLICATION TILD SEPI'. 24, 1909.

Patented Mayv 9, 1911.

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A. P. WATT.

MACHINE FOR STRINGING UORKS. APPLICATION FILED H2124, 1909.

991,915. Patented May.9,191.1.

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ANDREW P. WATT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MACHINE FOR STRINGING CORKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Application filed September 24, 1909. Serial No. 519,492.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW l). VATT, a citizen ot7 the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and uset'ul Improvements in Machines for Stringing Corks, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for attaching pull tapes or stringsto corks whereby each cork will be provided with means by which it maybe extracted from the receptacle into which it has been inserted toeffect a closure thereof.

One object of the invent-ion is to provide a machine that will stringcorks in quick succession so that the ends ot' the string may be exposedat the upper or outer end ot' the cork where the saine may be graspedduring the pulling of the cork from the closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic means forfeeding the corks with means for attaching the corks to a string ortape.

A further object is to provide a machine having cork-feeding and stringor tape feeding mechanism with means for attaching the corks to thestring or tape at spaced apart intervals.

A. still further object is to provide an improved means 'or separatingthe strung corks from cach other.

Another object is to provide means for coating the string or tape ifdesired where the corks are attached, to prevent the escape ot liquidsthrough the string or tape through the action of capillary attraction.

A further object is to provide a means for printing on tapes or stringsat spaced apart intervals with means for attaching corks on the stringbetween the printed portions.

lith these and other objects in View the accompanying drawingsillustrate the invention, wherein,

Figure l, is a side elevation of the entire machine. Fig. la, is asimilar view of the printing attachment. Fig. 2, is a top plan lview ofthe machine on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3, is a detail on a still larger scale, ot a portion of the corkcarrier and slitter and the devices for holding the cork during theslitting and Stringing operations. Fig. 4L, is an elevation of the same.Fig. 5, is a sectional elevation through the carrier and a sideelevation of the cord or tape cutting device. Fig. 6, is a plan view ofthe cutting device. Fig. 7, is a vertical sectional view through one ofthe cork seats of the carrier; the clamp and the cutter blade forproducing a slit in the cork. Figs. 8 and 9 are plan and elevationsrespectively of the detached cork clamp, and Fig. l0, is a perspectiveview of a cork having the cord or tape attached thereto as produced bythe machine.

Referring to the drawings the numeral, l, designates a base or stand ofany suitable construction and, 2, a supplemental frame carried therebyand having an upper horizontal cross-bar, 3. A vertical sha'lt, 4, issustained by the base or stand and is provided adjacent its lower endwith a beveled gear, 5,

which meshes with and is driven by a beveled pinion, 6, on a horizontaldriving shaft, 7. This driving shaft may be driven by any suitable meansbut in the present instance it is shown as having large gear, 8, whichin p 'actiee meshes with the gearing from a motor which it is deemedunnecessary to illustrate. A horizontal carrier,- 9, has a dependingcentral hub, 10, which ts down over the upper end of the vertical shaft,4t, and a set bolt or screw, 11, passes through the collar and into saidshaft whereby to secure them in rotary engagement. It will thus bounderstood that the carrier and vertical shaft revolve together. Thecarrier is provided with a plurality of radial arms, 12, the number ofwhich may bo varied at will, and each arm is provided with a suitablecork gripping or clamping mechanism which will now be described,particular reference heilig made to Figs. 3, 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings.The outer end of each arm, l2, is provided with a V-shaped notch orseat, 13, which at present is inclined with respect to the extremevertical edge, 14, ot the arm so that a cork, 15, when placed thereinwill be slightly tilted as clearly seen in Fig. 7. A cork clamp, 16, isalso provided at the outer end of each arm and each clamp is providedwith a pivot, 17, so that it may b'e swung about said arm-end. In thepresent instance the clamp has a plurality of spaced-apart curvedgripping fingers, 1S, which during the absence of a cork, proj ectbeyond said arm so as to embrace the cork and draw it into the notch orseat, 13, as the arm passes the point where the corks are fed. Theparticular shape of these clamps is immaterial and may be different fromthat shown, but in the present instance each clamp is of substantially aV-shape. A

coiled or spiral spring, 19, has one end attached in an suitable mannerto the point end of the clamp and the other end of said spring issecured to the arm so that normally, and during the absence of a cork,the gripping fingers will bep rojected to engage a cork.

At the center of the machine and direct-ly over the carrier there is astationary cam plate, 20, which in the present instance is sustained atthe lower ends of suitable posts, 21, that depend from the cross-bar, 3.It will be understood that the carrier revolves immediately below thestationary cam plate, 20, so that suitable means may be mounted on thecarrier and operated by the cam plate to actuate the gripping fingers,18, as will now be described.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that on the upper surfaceof the carrier there are a plurality of levers, 22, vprovided withpivots, 23, which enable them to rock horizontally with respect to thesurface of the carrier. The number of these levers will be determined bythe number of arms and cork-clamps employed on the carrier and as eightclamps and arms are shown in the present instance, so also are eightlevers employed. The inner ends of these levers have position adjacentthe periphery of the cam plate, 20, while the outer ends thereof areyieldingly connected with t-he broader gripping-linger ends of the corkclamps.

In the present instance coiled or spiral springs, 24, form the yieldingconnection between the levers and clamps.

It will be not-ed that the stationary camplate `is provided at one sidewith a notch, 25, into which the inner ends of the levers, 22, willswing as they travel about said cam, and when said inner ends enter thisnotch the outer ends thereof will swing around substantially parallelwith the springs, 24, and relieve the latter of tension so that theclamp and gripping fingers thereof may be swung around by the spring,19, so as to project the fingers outwardly and away from the notch orseat, 13, as shown at the lower right-hand of Fig. 2, of the drawing.When in this outward projecting condition, the fingers are ready toengage a cork andas the carrier-arms advance they convey the projectedfingers toward the point where the corks are fed into position to beembraced and placed by the fingers in the notches or seats, as will nowbe explained.

By reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 it will be seen that the top cross-bar,3, is sustained by the supplemental frame, 2, the upper side portions,26, of which project above the carrier-arms, l2, and said cross-barcarries or sustains a horizontal plate, 27, which has a clamping block,28, at its outer end. A tube or chute, 29, is clamped between the plateand block and the corks to be strung are fed through this chute from anyconvenient point so as to be delivered inthe path of the grippingfingers 18, at the side of the carrier arms. The chute-sustaining plate,27, and block, 28, are preferably adjustable with respect to thecross-bar, 3; a slot, 30, in the plate and 4locking bolt, 31, carried bythe bar permitting this adjustment. Beneath the lower end of the chute Iprovide a shelf or cork-sustaining bracket, 32, which is sustained bythe frame and extends horizontally so that the stack of corks in thechute may be sustained in a vertical position by the lower most cork ofthe stack resting upon said shelf or bracket. The horizontal position ofthis shelf or bracket is such that the projecting gripping fingers, 18,may pass over the same and embrace the lowermost cork of and carry itfrom beneath the stack thus permitting the remaining corks to drop downuntil the next lowermost cork will rest upon the shelf or bracket. Upondragging the lowermost cork from the stack the fingers will begin toswing around to push the cork against the seat at the end of thearm,-this swinging movement being effected by the inner end of thelever, 22, contacting with the shoulder, 33, at the end of Y Vhile theconstruction of the tubular chute is immaterial and may be varied, Iprefer to provide the lower end of the same with a longitudinal slot,34, at one side and to mount on the plate, 27, an adjustable stop plate,35, which has a nger, 36, that may be projected through the chute-slotto engage the corks and check or completely stop their descent in thechute.

rIhe first operation onthe cork is to produce a cross-slit therein sothat the cord or tape may be passed into the slit. It has been founddesirable to make this cross-slit ynear the lower end of the cork and tohave it extend in an upwardly inclined direction, for the bettersecurement of the cord or tape therein and it is for this reason thatthecork is clamped in an inclined position on the arms.

By reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 7, it will be seen that a horizont-albracket, 37, is secured to and extends laterally from the supplementalframe, 2, and that an angle-iron bracket, 38, having an adjusting slot,39, is attached to said bracket. The upper edge of the angle-ironbracket sustains a horizontal knife, 40, the cutting edge, 41, of whichconfronts and is so positioned with respect to the ends of the carrierarms thatV the corks clamped to the latter will wipe over and have aslit, 42, made therein by said cutting edge.

In order to aid in holding the corks during the slitting operation andprevent them from turning or revolving, I provide a wheel, 43, at t-heouter end of the bracket, 37, the rim of which projects between the gripping fingers, 18, and presses against the outer side of the clampedcork.

In the operation of the machine the stringing of the corks either oncord or tape, is effected as the cork leaves the cutter and while thelips at opposite sides of the slit are held open by the cutter'butbefore t-he cord or tape is entered into the slit of the cork it hasbeen subjected to several desirable and useful operations such asprinting and coating which operations will be more fully eX- plainedhereinafter.

In the present instance the drawings show the corks as strung on a bandor tape, 44, which passes through a slot, 45, at one end of the knife orcutter, then along' the outer side of the knife and finally throug'hanother slot, 46, back to the inner side of the knife before it iscarried or drawn around at the outer ends of the arms as clearly shownin Figs. 2 and 8. As the cork travels with the arm and clamp and isabout to pass off the far end of the knife or cutter blade the latter'will hold the lips of the cut open so they may receive the band or tapeand the latter enters the slit of the cork and is immediately clamped bythe lips as the latter close. It will be understood that as the armspass the chute the corks are clamped into position, then slit andfinally strung on the tape and as the arms move around they will drawthe tape with them until they reach another' point where the tape is cutbetween each two arms. The tape or cord cutting' device will thereforenow be dcscribed, reference being' made particularly to Figs. 2, 5, and6 of the drawings. bracket or bar, 47, is bolted to one of thecross-bars of the supplemental frame below the carrier and extendsoutwardly therefrom and said bracket is provided with a post or lug',4S, to which a lever, 49, is pivoted at a point between its ends. TheeXtreme outer end of the bar, 47, carries an upwardly inclinedstationary shear blade, 50, to one side and lower end of which a movableshear blade, 51, is pivoted. A pin projects from one side of the movableshear blade and a spiral spring', 59., has one end attached to said pinand its other end secured to a pin, 53, that is carried on the bar, 47.By means of this spring', 52, the movable shear blade is drawn away fromthe stationary blade thus normally leaving' theV shears open and readyto receive the tape to be cut. A link. 54. connects the upper end of themovable shear blade, 51, with the lower forward end of the lever, 49, sothat an upward movement of said lever end and link will impart a forwardswinging movement to the shear blade, 51, and cause it to shear anythingthat may be between it and the blade, 50. The inner upper end of thelever, 49, is provided with a roller, 55, which has position just belowthe carrier and in the path of cam plates, 56, carried at the under sideof the carrier and in a plane between the arms. lVhen the shear bladesare in the normal separated position the corks at the ends of theYcarrier arms will pass in a vertical plane between them, and as the camplates, 5G, on the carrier are positioned midway between the arms theywill press the roller end of lever, 49, down and thus move the shearblade, 5l, toward blade, 50, and thereby cut the string' or tape midwaybetween adjacent arms, thus separating' one cork and its attached stringor tape at each cutting' operation as indicated in Fig'. 2.

I have found in practice that in some instances where bottles containingliquids have been corked that the liquid will find outlet by capillaryattraction through the cord or tape and to overcome this I have provideda novel device to apply a water or liquid proof coating to the tapebefore it is attached to the cork. I have also found in practice that itis preferable to leave the cork and the projecting ends of the cord ortape free of the coating, and the device shown in the drawing' operatesto intermittently bring' the tape and a coating material into contact sothat at spaced apart intervals the tape will be provided with shortstretches that are coated. By reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 one form ofdevice for effecting this coating will be described. A receptacle; 57,is located below the cork cut ter blade, 40, and is designed to containa water or liquid-proof coating' material, for example, para'flin in amelted condition. and the cord or tape, 44, in passing toward the cutterblade will be coated at intervals, by bringing' the tape and coatingmaterial into contact, in any suitable manner. In the present instance Iprovide a horizontal rock shaft, 58, the outer end of which is supportedor has bearing in the side portion, 26, of the supplemental frame andthe inner end of which projects through and has bearing in a block, 59.Beyond this block said rock shaft carries an upwardly-extending arm,(S0, which has position in the path of the cam plates, 56, on the bottomof the carrier so that upon the cam plates contacting' with the said armthe rock shaft will be given a slight rocking movement. The outer end ofthe rock shaft carries an arm. Gl, which extends laterally anddownwardly over the receptacle. 57, and the lower end of this arm hasdownwardly*extending lug's, 62, between which the tape, 44, passesbefore it extends upwardly toward the cutter blade. By means of thisconstruction the rocking' of the shaft as each cam plate, 56, )assesover the arm, 60, will cause the arm, 61, to dip the tape into thesolution or coating material, which will immediately `rise again becauseof the tension on the tape. The position of the arm, 61, is such withrespect to the cutter blade that the coated portion of the tape willreach the end of said blade simultaneously with the slitted cork so tapebut sufficient coating will remain toetfect a sealing of the slit in thecork and also to prevent the capillary attraction hereinbefore referredto.

It has also been found desirable in some instances to provide the tapewith spacedapart lines of printing so that the ends of the tape at eachside of the cork will contain printed matter of any desired character.To ei'lect this l have provided the outer end of the shaft, 7, as seenin Figs. 1 and 2 with a sprocket wheel, 63, and a chain, 64, passes oversaid wheel and also over a sprocket, 65, on the shaft of a printingmechanism, 66, (see Figs. 1 and 1a). -The particular construction andlocation of this printing mechanism is immaterial and is not essentialto the invention, but in the drawing the same comprises a suitable casehaving an inking roller, 67, a printing roller, 68, and a platen, 69.The tape, elle, passes between the platen, 69, and printing roller, 68,and one side thereof is printed upon at spaced-apart intervals asclearly shown in Fig. 10.

In order to aid in ejecting the corks each clamp, 16, is provided with aprong, 70, which projects around the inner side of the cork during theclamping of the latter and when the lever, 22, and spring, 24, isreleased by the cam-plate, 20, the spring, 19, will swing the clampoutwardly and the prong, 70, will push the cork oft the seat at the endof the arm.

It will therefore be seen that in thepresent instance the tape isprinted upon one side at intervals; that it is coated at intervalsbetween the lines of printed matter; that the corks are fed andautomatically clamped one at a time and then slit; that the tape isentered into the slits of the corks and finally the tape is cut betweeneach two corks leaving a short length of tape attached to each cork.

It is to be understood that the application of a liquid-proof coating tothe tape either at intervals or continuously may be dispensed with, asin corking bottles containing powdered or granular materials. lt is alsoto be understood that the particular material employed on which thecorks are strung is also immaterial to the invention and may be a cord,tape or cloth or strong paper or wire and while the term tape is hereinemployed both in the specification and claims it is to be construed asincluding a band, cord or wire or any material suitable for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,-

1. The combination with a rotary carrier, of a plurality ofcork-gripping devices on said carrier; a cutter blade sustained at theside of the path of the gripping devices and means for sustaining a tapeadjacent thel blade whereby the latter may slit the gripped corks andhold the slit open while the tape is entered therein.

2. The combination with a rotary carrier,

of a plurality of cork-gripping devices on said carrier; a cutter bladesustained at the side of the path of the gripping devices, said bladehaving means for engaging a tape to be entered in a slit made by thecutter in the cork and means for rotating the carrier and drawing thetape into successively-slit corks.

3. The combination with a rotary carrier, oit a plurality ofcork-gripping devices on said carrier; acutter blade sustained at theside of the path of the gripping devices;

means for sustaining a tape; a receptacle to.

the tape in said slit.

5. The combination with a carrier for holding a cork, of means forsustaining a traveling tape so the latter may be drawn with the carrierand means for slitting the cork, and holding the slit open while thetraveling tape enters the slit of the cork.

6. The combination with a carrier, of a plurality of spaced-apartcork-gripping devices o-n the carrier; means for sustaining a tape atone side of the path of the gripping devices and in position to be drawnby the carrier; means for slitting the corks and entering the tapetherein and means for cutting the tape between adjacent grippingdevices.

7. The combination with a carrier, of a plurality of spaced-apartcork-gripping devices on the carrier; means for sustaining a tapeadjacent the gripping devices and means for slitting the corks andentering the tape in the slit thereof.

8. The combination with a carrier, of a plurality of cork-grippingdevices arranged. at spaced-apart intervals along the carrier; means:tor operating said devices to grip the corks; means for sustaining atape at one side of the path of the corks and a cutter for slitting thecorks and holding the slits open while the tape is entered therein.

9. The combination with means for holding a cork, of means forsustaining a tape; means for coating the tape at spaced-apart intervalsand means for slitting the cork and holding the slit open while thecoated portions of the tape is entered in the open slit.

10. The combination' with means for conveying a cork, of means forcoating a tape at spacedapart intervals; means for holding the tape inthe path of the conveyed corks and means for slitting` the corks toreceive the tape.

11. The combination with means for conveying corks in succession, ofmeans for sustaining a tape; means for coating the tape and means forslitting` the corks and entering the coated tape in the slits thereof.

12. The combination with means for conveying corks in succession, ofmeans for sustaining a tape; means for coating the tape; means forslitting the corks and entering the coated tape in the slits thereof,and means for cutting the ltape between the attached corks.

13. The combination with a carrier, of a plurality of corlcgrippingdevices on the carrier; means for feeding corks in succession to thegripping devices; means for sustaining a tape; means for slitting thecorks and entering the tape in the slit thereof and means for cuttingthe tape between the attached corks.

14. The combination with a rotary carrier, of a plurality of independentcorkgripping devices on said carrier; means for feeding corks in thepath of said gripping devices; a cutter blade in the path of the corksto slit the latter and means for sustaining a tape so the latter maymove with the carrier and enter the slits in the corks.

l5. The combination with a rotary carrier, of a plurality of independentcorkgripping devices on said carrier; means for feeding corks in thepath of said gripping devices; a cutter blade in the path of the corksto slit the latter; means for sustaining a tape so the latter may movewith the carrier and corks and enter the slits of the latter, and meansfor cutting the tape between the attached corks.

16. rThe combination with a rotary carrier having a plurality of arms,of a corkgripping device on each arm of the carrier; means for operatingsaid gripping devices to clamp and release the corks; means for feedingthe corks t0 the gripping devices in succession; a cutter blade in thepath of the corks for slitting the latter; means for sustaining a tapeadjacent said cutter blade so the same may enter the slits in the corksand means for cutting the tape between the attached corks.

17. The combination with a rotary carrier having a plurality of arms, ofa pivoted cork-gripping device on cach arm of the carrier; a stationarycam plate about which the arms and gripping devices travel; means opeating between the cam plate and said devices for moving the latter; acork-feed; means for sustaining a tape and means for slitting the corkand entering the tape in said slit.

18. The combination with a rotary carrier having a plurality of arms, ofa pivoted cork-gripping device on each arm; a stationary camplate;levers contacting with the said plate; a yielding connection betweeneach lever and one of the gripping devices; a cork feed; means forholding a tape and means for slitting the corks and entering the tape inthe slits thereof.

19. The combination with a rotary carrier having a plurality of arms, ofa pivoted cork-gripping device on each arm; a stationary cam-plate;yielding means operating between the cam-plate and each gripping device;a stationary cutter blade to slit the corks; means for sustaining a tapewhile the latter travels adjacent the said blade to enter the slits inthe corks and means for cutting the tape between the corks.

20. The combination with a rotary carrier having a plurality of armswith a cork seat on each arm, of a pivoted gripping device on each arm;a cork feed; means for operating the gripping devices to successivelyengage and clamp corks to the seats; a cutter' blade in the path of thecorks to slit the latter and means for sustaining a tape while thelatter travels along the cutter blade and enters the slits in the corksas the latter leave said blade.

21. The combination with a rotary earrier, of a plurality ofcork-gripping devices on said carrier; means for feeding corks to saiddevices; means for sustaining a tape; means for slitting the corks andentering the tape in the slits thereof; a stationary cutter in the pathof the tape and means on the carrier for operating the cutter to cut thetape between adjacent gripping devices.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREV l). VATT.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES B. MANN, J r., G. FERDINAND Voer.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

